Engine-stop



Patented May 2, I899.

No. 624,428. J. BRADY.

ENGINE STOP;

(Application filed June rs, 1898.3

5 Shaets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

m: "cams PETERS co. rmo'rou'mo.v WASHINGTON, o. c

No. 624,428. Patented May 2, I899. J. BRADY.

ENGINE STOP.

(Application filed June 18, 1898.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

m2 Ncnms PETERS co. PMOTO-LITHO,WASH\NGTON. a c

Patented May 2, I899. J. BRADY.

ENGINE STOP.

(Application filed June 18 1898.)

(No Model.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

.3 @m mm mm Q A Patented May '2, I899.

J. BRADY.

ENGINE STOP.

(Application filed June 18, 159B.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

Patented May 2, I899. J. BRADY.

ENGINE STOP.

(Application filed June 18, 1898.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

12 .12. e: 76 Q 76 7s 76 @76 @76 i MM Z I I 1/6 Elma wow 7g. 1 eooeo #7 dmjlzradizy UNITED STATES PA ENT OFFICE.

JAMES BRADY, on NEW YORK, N. Y., AssieNon TO THE MONARCH MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, on WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT.

ENGINE-STOP;

SPEGIFTCAT I ION forming part of Letters Patent Nd. 624,428, dated May 2, 1899. Application filed June 18, 1898. serial No- 683379. (No model.)

To'ctll whom it may concern: ver, so as to provide for moving one of said Be it known that I, JAMES BRADY, a citizen parts through another. The pin on the of the United States, and a resident of New crank-hub thus becomes the means for mov- York, (Brooklyn,) in the county of Kings and ing the dog by the lever in the direction of Stateof NewYork, haveinvented certain new throwing said dog out of engagement with and useful Improvements in Engine-Stops, of the ratchet, as well as the means whereby the which the following is 2. Specification. setting-lever is reset by the shaft. The open- My invention relates to improvements in ingsthrough the leverand dogare enlarged for those devices which are designed for emerthe double purpose of permitting the dog to 10 gency use in cutting off the supply of power vibrate over the ratchet-teeth'in winding the to a steam-engine or other motor through the drum and permitting a lost motion between medium of electric circuits extending to one the lever and dog in retraction, so that the or more distant points-such, for example, as lever, when released by the armature, will disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. gain momentum before striking the dog and I5 552,464, granted December 31, 1895, to my as-- act more efficiently in overcoming friction of signee, Leonard W. Sweet. the latter with the ratchet-tooth with which The objects of my present invention are it is in engagement. to provide an improved construction of the A further feature consistsin utilizinga por- Weight-motor for actuating the cut-off mechtion of said setting-shaft to complete an 20 anism in order to render its operation more alarm-circuit when the mechanism is called promptly responsive upon release of the deinto action and providing said setting-shaft tent, to improve the detent and render it with a block of insulating material, which is more easily released, to provide improved brought beneath brushes to open the circuit means for checking the operation of the deand stop the alarm when the device is reset,

25 vice as it reaches the limit of its movement, the operation of these parts being such that and to adapt the mechanism for convenient the alarm will continue to sound until the resetting. device is reset, and as the valve or cut-off The feature of my invention relating to the cannot be held open until said device is reweight-motor consists in combining thereset no opportunity is offered for again start- 30 with a starting-spring, which will impart an ing the engine until the safety appliance is initial movement to the device, and thereby in proper condition. v

avoid the loss of time incident to overcoming Further features relate to details of conthe inertia of the weight when setting the struction of the dash-pot, which serves to reparts in motion, also to so combine said spring tard the operation of the device and avoid 35 with the parts that it will not only perform shock, but which olfers no resistance to the the function of initiating the movement of resetting device.

the mechanism, but will act as a cushion to My invention will be fully understood upon arrest the rotation of the drum when the reference to the accompanying drawings, in mechanism reaches the limit of its movement} which- 0 The features of novelty relating to the de- Figure l is a plan of my improved device tent consist in combining with the usual with the upper portion of the casing removed. ratchet-disk a dog and lever loosely fitted on Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the a setting-shaft having elastic connection bedevice. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section tweenthem, so that the dog is held into enof the same in the plane of the setting-shaft.

45 gagement with the ratchet-disk by the lever Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively an axial and a 5 through a yielding connection, while the letransverse section of the preferred form of ver is retained in position by the armature drum which contains the starting and cushof areleasinganagnet anda crank-hub keyed ioning spring. Figs. 6 to 10 are detail views to the setting-shaft and having a pin prorepresenting the parts of the detent both as- 50 jecting through openings in the dog and lesembled and segregated. Fig. 11 represents '2 ewes the device in use. Fig. 12 is a diagram showing the manner of connecting up the circuits with the electrical portion of the mechanism.

Referring to Fig. 11, 1 represents, for purposes of illustration, a steam-pipe or other conductor for supplying power to a steamengine or motor which it is desired to control.

2 represents the cut-off, illustrated as the valve-stem by which the valve in said pipe may-be controlled. Upon said stem 2 I mount a sprocket-wheel 3 or equivalent machine element, which is connected through chain 3 to a corresponding driving member 4, carried by the drum 5 of the device which forms the subject-matter of myinvention. The drum 5 is mounted on the shaft 6 of the device and under control of said shaft, and is provided with a winding-cord 7, connected with a weight 8, which weight when gravitatin g imparts rotary movement to the drum 5, which will be transmitted through the connections 3 and 4 to the valve-stem 2 in a direction which will cut off the supply of power. As will be presently described, the rotation of the drum 5 is normally .opposed by controlling mechanism, which is contained in a casing 9 and under the control of an electric circuit extending to one or more distant points and containing a number of push-buttons or other circuit-closers. When the circuit is closed at any point, the mechanism is released, the drum 5 is free to rotate, and the supply of power will be cut off.

One of the difliculties which I haveexperienced in the use of a weight for driving the drum 5 is the delay which occurs in overcoming the inertia of the weight and parts to be set in motion. In order to avoid this objection, the drum 5 is mounted loosely on the shaft 6, and controlling connection between them is made through the means shown in Figs. 3 and 5, comprising an arm 10 fixed to the shaft (5, a lug 11 carried by the drum and engaging arm 10 in one direction, another projection 12 on the drum, and a spring 13 en-,

gaged at one end by projection 12, having its other end connected to a pin 14 on the arm 10 and with its intermediate portion coiled about the hub 10 of the arm 10. The movement necessary to wind up the cord 7 on the drum 5 results from turning the valve-stem 2 in the act of opening the valve. This same movement is imparted from said drum through pin 11, arm 10, and shaft 6 to controlling mechanism within the casing 9, which is by that movement moved to its set position, and retained in that position by retaining means (a pawl and ratchet) to be presently described. The parts being thus set and the retaining device opposing the rotation of the shaft, the drum 5 will turn under the influence of the weight 8 just as far as the weight can compressthe spring 13, and the springremains in this compressed condition when the throttle-valve is open, and the engine-stop as a whole is in condition to respond to the electriciin pulse (or to be tripped by hand) to close the valve. The moment the retaining device is tripped and shaft 6 is free to turn the spring 13 (already compressed by the unwinding tendency of the weight) starts the shaft instanter and much quicker than it would take to overcome the inertia of the weight by gravity, thus permitting a heavy weight to be used.

In other words, the weight has stored up in the spring energy which the spring gives back instantly, and by the time the ends of the spring are separated to the full extent of the springs power over the shaft the weight will have come into full action, and from then on the pulley-arm and sh af ti n g will turn together,

driven by the weight. As the piston of the dash-pot meets with resistance from the air by the latter becoming more and more compressed, it will begin to retard the speed at which the shaft rotates and eventually stop the shaft. The spring will now again come into play and act as a cushion and relieve the sudden stop of the weight.

IVhile I prefer the arrangement of windingdrum just described, employing the startingspring, it will be observed that I may use with the remaining partsof my present invention a spring-drum 5, having driving-spring 5, with one end attached at 5 to the drum and the other end fixed at 5 to a stationary part of the device.

15, Figs. 1 and 4, represents the lower part of a casing having integral lugs 16, to-which is hinged a cover 17, provided with peep-holes 17, properly located and to be hereinafter referred to. The ends of the casing 15 have suitable bearings 18 19, in which is journaled the shaft 6. This shaft 6 has at one rear end a reduced portion 20, which works in the hearing 18 in the rear of the casing and has a screwthread 21 formed upon it, connecting at the reduced portion and continuing asuitable distance toward the forward end of the shaft.

22 is a dash-pot secured in the rear end of the casing by means of the screws 23, and in one corner of this dash-pot is formed a reliefvalve 24, regulated by means of a screwplug 25.

26 is a plunger provided with screw-til reads 27 in its hub, which when the parts are assembled are engaged by the screw-thread 21 on the shaft 6, so that when said shaft turns the plunger will work in the dash-pot to retard the rotation of the shaft.

28 is a valve-stem working in cross-arm 29 and on which is secured the valve 30, held against its seat 31 in the forward face of the having a ratchet-face 42, engaged by a pawl 43, which is loosely mounted upon a shaft 44.

45 represents a controlling lever which is also loosely mounted upon the shaft 44, and which holds the pawl 43 into engagement with the teeth 42 through the medium of a spring 46,

. whichextends from the lever 45 to a horn 47 on said pawl 43.

48 represents a crank-arm keyed to the shaft 44 and havinga pin 49, which enters relatively enlarged openings 45 and 47 formed,respectively, in the lever 45 and dog 43. By this means the dog 43 may be withdrawn from the ratchet by rotating the shaft 44, upon which the crank-arm 48 is keyed, when it is desired to release the mechanism by hand to shut the valve independently of the electric releasing mechanism. The openings and 47 a are of such size that the dog .43 may be moved out of engagement with the ratchet 40 by the'turning of the shaft withoutdistnrbingthe posi-- ver 45 to its set position after said lever has been released by the electric trip. If the dog 43 is to be withdrawn through the medium of the lever 45, this effect is produced by the engagement of said lever with a projection 50 on said dog. During this movement the crank -arm 48 remains stationary, but the openings 45 and 47 are of sufficient dimension to prevent interference with these movements by the pin 49. The lever 45 is provided with a retracting-spring 51, which tends to draw it away from the ratchet-disk. It will be seen that the proportions of the parts are such that the lever 45 moves a considerable portion of its throw before coming in contact with the dog 43, and by this means said lever may develop sufficient momentum to insure overcoming the friction between said dog and the ratchet-tooth with which it is in engagement. If it should be desired to increase the momentum of the lever, it may be provided with a counterpoise 45 as shown in Fig. 8, and said counterpoise may be made adjustable verti- -cally upon said lever for the purpose of varymovement by a screw 55, which engages a stop 58. 59 represents an armature carried on the other end of the lever 52, and which is under control of an electromagnet 60,which is to be connected in circuit with suitable circuit-closers, either push-buttons or switches 76 (see Fig. 12) at distant points, or a speed limit device 77, which closes the circuit in the event that the speed of the engine exceeds a certain limit. When the armature 59 is drawn down, the lever 45 is released and immediately drawn back by its spring 51 a sufficient distance to withdraw the pawl 43 and permit the shaft 6 to rotate freely. When the lever 45 is drawn back, it passes between and closes the circuit through two contactsprings 61, having connection with bindingpost 62, that receive the ends of a conductor forming a part of a bell or other alarm circuit. Said lever, therefore, in addition to setting in operation the stop mechanism, rings an alarm, and thus calls attention to the fact that the device has been called into action.

63 represents the binding-posts, by means of which electrical connection may be made with the magnet 60.

64 represents a pair of contact-springs carried by binding-post 65, whereby said springs may also be introduced intothe bell-circuit, andthese springs bear normally upon a metallic collar 66 on the shaft 44, whereby the circuit is completed through said springs. The alarm will therefore ring only when the mechanism is set in operation through the instrumentality of the electric trip and not when the mechanism is manually operated, asin the ordinary use for opening and closing the throttle-valve. I

67 is an insulating-block inserted in the collar 66 in such position that said collar may be turned to bring the insulating-block 67 beneath the spring 64, and thus break thebellcircuit and stop the ringing of the alarm.

68 represents a spring-cap having an end adapted to enter the depression 69 in the collar 66, whereby the latter is held at either end too of its movement until released. The collar 66 is turned by means of milled heads 66 on opposite ends of a small shaft 66", which shaft is connected to the collar 66 by means of a pm 66, working in a segmental slot 44 of the main shaft 44.

The circuits which may be employed for carrying out this part of my'invention will be 72 may be closed if the engine exceeds a certain limit of speed.

In order to manually operate the enginestop both for ordinary closing of the valve and for resetting after an emergency operation through the electric trip, I provide a controlling-arm 80 on the shaft 44 and on the other end a locking-arm 81, which carries a springdog 82, engaging in a depression in the casing of the machine or other fixed part. When the shaft 44 is rotatedby turning the arm 80 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, the lever will be moved out from between the contact 61 and the detent 52 again allowed to enter behindit and hold it in position. Until this is done the pawl 43 will not be held in engagement with the ratchet 40, and even though the throttle-valve should be opened without first setting the engine-stop it will be immediately closed again, so that there is no possibility of omission to set the device and have everything in readiness for another op-i oration when the engine is again started up. When, however, the dog 43 is Withdrawn by turning the shaft 44, it will return to engagement as soon as the shaft is released.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In an engine-stop, the combination of an actuating-weight, controlling mechanism and a spring interposed between the actuatingweight and controlling mechanism; substantially as set forth.

2. In an engine-stop. the combination of a rotary controlling mechanism having a shaft,

a fixed arm projecting from said shaft, a winding-drum having means for rotating it and having projections on opposite sides of said arm for respectively setting the mechanism and rotating it in action, and aspring interposed between the armand that one of the projections which imparts rotation to the arm in action; substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In an engine-stop, the combination of rotating controlling mechanism having a pawl and ratchet for holding it in set position till released, and having a shaft, a drum loosely mounted on said shaft, a spring interposed between the drum and shaft, a gravitating weighthaving a winding connection upon said drum and a spring interposed between the drum and shaft and through the medium of which motion is imparted by the weight to the shaft; substantially asand for the purposes setforth.

4. In an engine-stop, the combination of means for actuating the cut-off, a shaft driven by said actuating means,a ratchet-disk mounted upon said shaft, a rock-shaft carrying a dog which engages said ratchet, a controllingl'ever having an elastic connection with said dog for, holding it in engagement with the ratchet and positively engaging said dog in the opposite direction for drawing it away from said ratchet, an armature retaining said lever in position to hold the pawl in engage.- ment with the ratchet, and an electromagnet for withdrawing said armature; substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In an engine-stop, the combination of a suitable motor for cutting off the supply of power, a shaft moving with said motor and carrying a ratchet-disk, a dog engaging said ratchet and having a rearwardly-projecting horn, a controlling-lever, a spring connection between the controlling-lever and the horn of the dog whereby the latter is held-in engagement with the ratchet, a positive connection between said lever and dog whereby the lever may withdraw said dog from theyratchet, a spring tending to draw the lever with the dog away from the ratchet, a detent for holding the lever in opposition to said spring, and an electromagnet and armature connected with said detent whereby the latter may be withdrawn from engagementwith the lever; substantially as and for the purposes set forth. 6. In an engine-stop, the combination of a suitable motor for cutting off the power, controlling mechanism for said motor, an alarmcircuit, an alarm-circuit closer operated by the release of the controlling mechanism, and

a manually-operated alarm-circuit break;

substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. In an engine-stop, the combination of a suitable motor for actuating the cut-off, suitable controlling mechanism adapted to be released at will, an alarm-circuit, an alarm-circnit closer called into operation by the release of the controlling mechanism, a manuallyoperated alarm-circuit, break, and a springcatch for the alarm-circuit break; all arranged substantially as and forthe purposes set forth.

8. In an engine-stop, the combination of a motor for actuating thecut-offla controlling mechanism for restraining the operation of said motor until released, a ratchet-disk form- 1 ing part of said controlling mechanism, arockshaft, a dog loosely mounted on said rockshaft and engaging the ratchet, a controllinglever on said rock-shaft, a spring extending from the controlling-lever to the dog whereby said dog is yieldingly held in engagement with the ratchet, a crank-arm fixed on the shaft and having a slot-and-pin connection with said lever and dog whereby said crankarm may withdraw the dog from the ratchet, or move said lever into forward position, and

an electrically-controlled detent for retaining the lever in position, which holds the pawl in' engagement with the ratchet; substantially as described.

9. In a controllingmechanism for enginestops, the combination of a ratchet for opposing the operation of the stop until released, a controlling-lever for said ratchet, the detent 52 fulcrumed at 53 and engaging the controlling-lever at 54, the screw 55 and stop 58 for limiting the movement of said detent,spring 56 for holding said detent in engagement with the controlling-lever, armature 59 on the end of the detent opposite to its point of engagement with the controlling-lever, and an electromagnet controlling said armature whereby the mechanism may be brought under control of a circuit-closer at a distant point; substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

10. In an engine-stop, the combination of a controlling mechanism having a ratchet, a

, controlling-lever for said ratchet, a rock-shaft upon which the dog of the ratchet and the controlling-lever are mounted, a setting-lever 80 on said rock-shaft, and an arm also on said IIO rock-shaft and having a spring-catch; substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

11. In an engine-stop, the combination of a controlling mechanism having a ratchet, a controlling-lever for said ratchet, an alarmcirouit including a circuit-closer operated by the release of said controlling-lever, a rockshaft upon which the controlling-lever and the pawl of the ratchet are mounted, a setting-lever on'said rock-shaft, a sleeve also mounted on said rock-shaft and carrying a circuit-break for the alarm-circuit, and an independently-turning shaft Within the rockshaft, engaging the circuit-breaking sleeve and having means of turning it independently of the rock-shaft; all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

12. In an engine-stop, the combination of the controlling mechanism, an alarm 'circuit having a circuit-closer operated by the release of said controlling mechanism, a manually-operated rotating sleeve having an insulating-block therein, and a pair of contactsprings 64 suitably introduced in the alarmcirc-uit and bearing upon said sleeve; substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

13. In a controlling mechanism for enginestops, the combination of a releasing mechanism, an alarm-circuit including a circuitcloser operated by the releasing mechanism to sound an alarm when the stop is called into action,and a manually-operated circuit-break for said alarm-circuit comprising a rotating metallic sleeve having in its surface a segmental insulating-block and depressions, a pair of contact-springs bearing upon the periphery of the sleeve and suitably introduced into the alarm-circuit so that said circuit is made when the springs bear upon the metallic surface and is broken when they bear upon the insulating-block, and a spring-catch also bearing upon said sleeve and entering the notches therein as it reaches the limits of its movement in opening and closing the alarmcircuit; substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

l t. In an engine-stop, the combination of the controlling mechanism, an atmospheric dash-pot for retarding the movement of the stop, comprising a dash-pot having at one corner an air-outlet adapted to be graduated by a screw and piston having threaded connection with the shaft of the controlling mechanism and working in said dash-pot, and a valve in said piston closing under pressure but opening under suction within the dashpot; substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

15. In an engine-stop, the combination of the shaft and controlling mechanism, a dashpot having a relief-valve, apiston working in said dash-pot and having threaded connection with the shaft, a valve in said piston closing under pressure and opening under suction within the dash-pot, a stem projecting from said valve, an adjustable head on said valve-stem and astop for engaging the adjustable head and arresting its movement; substantially as and for the purposes set'forth.

16. In an engine-stop, the combination of the shaft of the controlling mechanism, a stationary dash-pot, a piston threaded on said shaft and working in the dash-pot, the guide 36 on the casing, and the guide-roller 37 suitably sec u'red to the plunger and working in said guide; substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

JAMES BRADY.

Witnesses:

EDW. W. KNEEN, S. H. SEssEY. 

